Michael M. Burke

Michael McGuirk Burke, lifelong Kansas Citian, attorney, and civic leader passed away on Sunday, March 5, 2023 at the age of 73. He was born May 8, 1949, in Kansas City, Missouri, to James E. and Jeanne McGuirk Burke. He grew up in the Crestwood neighborhood and attended St. Francis Xavier Grade School. He graduated from Rockhurst High School, with honors, in 1967. He was active in speech, debate, theater, and student council.

He attended Georgetown University and earned his AB in History in only three years. Mike entered Georgetown Law Center where he earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1973. He was particularly interested in international law and served as Research Editor and Editorial Board Member of Law and Policy in International Business, the international law journal of Georgetown.

Following graduation, Mike returned to Kansas City to practice law with his father, the late James E. Burke. It was at the law firm that he met Melinda Stoeger, the love of his life. They were married in November of 1974 at St. Therese Catholic Church in Parkville, Missouri. This last year Mike and Melinda celebrated 48 years of marriage.

Mr. Burke pursued his interest in real estate law and in 1978 negotiated what was then the largest sale of development ground in Kansas City history, conveying three thousand acres of land in Clay County to a subsidiary of the Mormon Church.

Mike was always balancing his legal career with his civic and community interest and love of his native city. A dedicated Northlander, Mike became alarmed at the number of fatal accidents on Barry Road, then a narrow two-lane road with one-lane bridges. Burke formed a coalition of neighborhood and business groups to campaign for Barry Road improvements. The campaign was successful in developing the main east west corridor in the Northland.

Mike was active in numerous civic endeavors. He served as President of the Platte County Business and Professional Association, a predecessor to the Northland Chamber of Commerce. Mike was a founding member and President of the Platte County Industrial Development Commission and President of the Industrial Development Authority. Mike was selected as Platte County Citizen of the Year in 1981. Mike also served as board member or director of the following organizations: Northland Chamber of Commerce, Kansas City Community Video Advisory Board, Planned Industrial Expansion Authority of Kansas City, Regional Urban Design Implementation Committee, the International Trade Club, the Mid-Continent Public Library, the Georgetown Alumni Association of Kansas City (President), Jackson County Rate Shock Task Force, Metropolitan Area Naturalization Council, Platte County Sheltered Facilities Board, Park Plaza Homes Association (President), Heart of America Friends of Scouting, Kansas City Corporation for National Conventions, Citizens Advisory Committee on Noise Control, Saint Therese Church Parish Council, Synergy Services, Northland Genealogy Society (founding member), Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas City, Jackson County Historical Society , Northland Battered Persons Association (later named Safehaven and Synergy), Park Hill School District Planning Advisory Committee, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Mid America Regional Council Bi-State Funding Task Force, Kansas City Community Infrastructure Committee, Economic Development Corporation (EDC), the National Civic League (Denver CO), Our Lady of Sorrows Parish Council (President) and the Centurions Leadership Program.

Mike’s broad civic interests led him to run successfully for Kansas City 1st District City Council. There he served on the City Council Aviation Committee, the Operations Committee and led a task force studying KC’s solid waste program. He introduced and successfully passed KC’s first seat belt ordinance and an ordinance regulating private alarm services.

In the 1980s Burke began what was to be a lifelong interest in Kansas City’s Riverfront. He Chaired the Riverfront Redevelopment Task Force, a joint City and Chamber endeavor. He later served as Board member and Chair of the Kansas City Port Authority (now Port KC). He was a founding member and Chairman of Friends of the River and was the Kansas City chair of A Journey Fourth—Celebrating the Bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He started and chaired KC Riverfest, the City’s Fourth of July celebration at the Riverfront. He was a board member of Kansas City River Trails and an Advisory Board Member of the Waterfront Center (Washington D.C.).

In 1988 Burke made a fortuitous decision when he joined in partnership with the late Richard A. King. The partnership continued under various firm names for twenty-five years. In the 1990s Burke served as General Counsel to the Port Authority and helped to secure funding for the cleanup of the contaminated riverfront property as well as funding for road improvements. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) appointed Mike to serve on KC-ICON and to score the design of the new Bond Bridge. One accomplishment he was proud of was drafting and successfully lobbying for passage of the Port Improvement Act by the Missouri Legislature. This became a valuable tool in riverfront development and other projects. Mike played a key role in negotiating on behalf of the city for the sale of the former Richards Gebaur Air Force Base to private interests.

Burke kept up his involvement in City Hall. He served five years as chair of the Public Improvements Advisory Committee (PIAC). and oversaw recommendations on over $500 million in capital improvements and deferred maintenance. One of Mike’s most cherished assignments was serving as Chair of the KC All America City Committee and in 2006 Kansa City won the title of All America City.

In 2011 Mike ran for Mayor of Kansas City, losing to Sly James in what many considered one of the most cordial campaigns in recent memory. James afterward worked closely with Burke. He appointed Mike to be the KC Chair of the Mayors’ Bi-State Innovation Team (MBIT) to study the impact of high-speed fiber on the KC area. The team made recommendations which led to the establishment of an Innovation Office in City Hall. Mike helped to found KC Digital Drive to help implement the team’s recommendations. He also was a founding member and chair of Launch KC, a program of the EDC and Downtown Council to encourage startups in Kansas City. Collaborating with partners at UMKC Mike assisted in finding funding for the UMKC Digital Sandbox and served on its advisory board. In 2013, Government Technology Magazine named Mike as one of the nation’s “Top 25 Innovators in Government”.

Mayor James also appointed Burke to chair the Mayor’s Task Force on the Arts. The Task Force report led to establishment of the office of the Arts in City Hall and the KC Film Office at Visit KC. Governor Nixon appointed Mike to the Missouri Arts Commission which oversees millions in state art grants annually. Mike served as an advocate for the arts for many years.

Mike served for several years on the board of the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Bureau (now Visit KC). In that capacity he served on a committee to study the need for a convention headquarters hotel. Following a failed City attempt to lure investors, Mike put together a developer team and worked with the team and City staff to craft a workable finance plan. After nine contentious years, two city councils, two initiative petitions, and a lawsuit the new Loews Hotel opened in 2020.

Mike is survived by his wife of 48 years, Melinda Stoeger Burke; his son, John Michael (Victoria), North Kansas City, MO; sister, Suzanne Noonan (Gerald), Northbrook, IL; brother, James (Edna), Murfreesboro, TN, and brother, John, Kansas City.

A visitation will be held at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 2552 Gillham Blvd., Kansas City, MO from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Wednesday, March 15 and Rosary at 5:30 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, March 16 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 2552 Gillham Blvd., Kansas City, MO. Burial is in Calvary Cemetery, 6901 Troost, Kansas City, MO. The family suggests donations to Operation Breakthrough or Synergy Services. Condolences may be offered at www.mcgilleymidtownchapel.com.